Manchester United Complete £74m Signing of Benjamin Šeško After Beating Newcastle to Striker

Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Slovenian striker Benjamin Šeško from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in a deal worth an initial £66.3 million (€76.5m), rising to £74 million (€85m) with add-ons. The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, keeping him at the club until June 2030.

Šeško arrived in Manchester on Thursday after choosing the Red Devils over Newcastle United, following a competitive transfer battle between the Premier League rivals.

United Edge Out Newcastle
Newcastle were confident of striking a deal for the forward after submitting a £70 million plus add-ons bid. However, United secured his signature with their opening offer, avoiding a bidding war and capitalising on the player’s preference to join them.

Magpies manager Eddie Howe has now missed out on another key target, with Šeško making it clear that Old Trafford was his desired destination.

Šeško on His Move to United
Upon completing his transfer, Šeško spoke of his excitement for the future:

“The history of Manchester United is obviously very special, but what really excites me is the future. When we discussed the project, it was clear that everything is in place for this team to continue to grow and compete for the biggest trophies again soon.

From the moment I arrived, I could feel the positive energy and family environment that the club has created. It is clearly the perfect place to reach my maximum level and fulfil all of my ambitions.

I cannot wait to start learning from Ruben and connecting with my team-mates to achieve the success that we all know we are capable of together.”

Director of recruitment Christopher Vivell is understood to have played a pivotal role in the deal, having previously worked as Leipzig’s technical director.

Third Big-Money Signing of the Summer
Šeško becomes United’s third major acquisition of the transfer window, following Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. Their combined arrivals take the club’s summer spending to over £200 million.

Prolific Record in Germany
One of Europe’s most highly rated young strikers, Šeško scored more goals than any other player under the age of 23 in the continent’s top five leagues over the past two seasons.

After joining Leipzig from RB Salzburg in 2022, he scored 39 goals in 87 appearances in all competitions, including 27 in the Bundesliga. Last season, he netted 13 league goals and four in eight Champions League appearances, though Leipzig failed to secure European football for the upcoming campaign.

Had he opted for Newcastle, Šeško would have been playing Champions League football next season, but he chose United instead.

Departures Expected at Old Trafford
With their summer spending now surpassing £200 million, United are expected to offload several players to balance the books.

Alejandro Garnacho could be among the first to leave, with Chelsea initiating talks for the Argentine winger. The Blues are confident of securing a deal for around £30 million, significantly lower than United’s previous £60 million valuation. The club are now believed to be seeking closer to £50 million, but their need to sell may allow Chelsea to negotiate a reduced fee.

Rasmus Højlund’s future is also uncertain, with United open to offers of £40 million — just over half the £72 million paid to Atalanta for him in 2023. The 21-year-old is reluctant to leave, potentially leaving manager Rúben Amorim with three recognised No.9s, including Joshua Zirkzee.

Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia are also expected to depart this summer, having been instructed to train away from the first-team squad.